Mac OS X | Desktop Enhancements | Themes | The Unread

The Unread - 1.0.1

Displays number of unread Mail messages in menu bar

Download v 1.1

(File Size: 200k)

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All Time:	(4.0)
Version 1.0.1:	(4.8)
Selected Version:	1.0.1
Release Date:	2004-01-09
License:	Freeware
Downloads (version 1.0.1):	1,116
Downloads (all versions):	7,479

Information Related to Version:

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Product Description:

I have lots of applications with lots of BIG windows and only one monitor. I wanted a quick way to see if I had any new mail in Mail without actually wasting the .35 seconds required to make the Dock spring up or to command+tab to Mail only to have my hopes dashed by not finding a little red badge on the Mail icon. I tried a Konfabulator widget that had a floating window that displayed if and how many unread emails you have, but try as I might I just don't have the taste for floating windows, I value my screen real eastate and no matter where I put the darned things they eventually (or immediately) get in my way.

It's frustrating, I know, but I'm here to help!

That nice, compact, warm and fuzzy menu bar is (almost) always there, why not take advantage of that? And so I have. The Unread will display a menu bar status item representing the number of unread emails (if any) you have in your accounts in Mail. The title is highly customizable for each of four situations:

An error has occurred.
Mail is not running.
You have no unread messages.
You do have unread messages.

The can be set to whatever you want for each situation. It's a simple, small, effective and -- in my opinion -- a useful little tool. Give it a shot.

What's new in this version:

BIG Changes:

The Unread now checks ALL mailboxes/folders in Mail (including those in the "On My Mac" "account") - not just those in your main accounts.
You can now choose EXACTLY which mailboxes are monitored and can exclude others from showing up in the unread count - no more Junk mail showing up (unless you want it to!).
Added the ability to use icons instead of or in addition to the titles you define.
You can now specify a unique color for each of the four titles - i.e. red if you have unread mail, blue if you don't, black if an error occurrs and fuscia if Mail is not running... whatever you want.

Operating System Requirements:

This product is designed to run on the following operating systems:

Mac OS X 10.3
Mac OS X 10.2

Additional Requirements:

Mac OS X 10.2 or higher

Feedback Summary:

Version 1.0.1:
Overall Rating:	(4.8)	Features:	(4.8)	Support:	(4.5)
Ease of Use:	(4.8)	Quality / Stability:	(4.8)	Price:	(5.0)

Key to Types of Feedback:

Reviews Reviews Troubleshooting Usage Tips Developer Notes Commentary Featured Reviews

The Unread - Version: 1.1, 7/3/2006 06:31AM PST

mpsd1

Useless piece of crap! Author does NOT return email on how to UNISTALL!

If anyone knows how to get this software OFF their Mac please post.

Completely hangs my Macbook Pro - Version: 1.1, 3/30/2006 07:04AM PST

dslice

I've been using The Unread for a couple of years and really like it. Tried version 1.1 and it completely hangs my Macbook Pro requiring a hard power off to recover. Gave up on 1.1 and back to 1.01.

Work around for 1.1 bug - Version: 1.1, 9/2/2004 06:16PM PST

Brock McNuggets

Aha... was hoping for a fix from the author, but that does not seem to be the case. Still, easy work around for the 1.1 bug of resetting prefs... lock the pref file. To do that: go to your home directory, open your "Preferences" folder and Get Info on "com.schartworks.The_Unread.plist". Click the locked check box and all should be good.

Of course, if you want to make changes to your prefs, you will have to unlock this file... so make sure your prefs are how you want them before you lock it.

Has been working for me.